How to Let People Know That You Read Their Text Messages on an iPhone 5

You may have noticed that sometimes there is a little note underneath a text message that you send to a contact on your iPhone 5. Occasionally that note will say “Read”, followed by the time. This lets you know that the contact has read the message that you sent to them. That can be very helpful if a message is important, and you would like to be able to verify that it was received.

This is not something that happens automatically, however. There is a feature in the iPhone’s Messages app called “Read Receipts” that enables this functionality. Our tutorial below will show you how to find it and turn it on so that other people will be able to see that you have read the text messages that they have sent to you.

How to Enable Read Receipts on an iPhone 5

Step 1: Tap the Settings icon.

Step 2: Scroll down and select the Messages option.

Step 3: Tap the button to the right of Send Read Receipts. Other people will be able to see that you have read their text messages when there is green shading around that button. Read Receipts are enabled in the picture below.

Additional Notes

This only affects text messages that you read. This will not allow you to know that other people have read your text messages.

People will know that you have read their text messages by a small note that says “Read” under the message in their Messages app.